89 Upper Deck Griffeys- Economists?

[7nohitter]

For some reason I cannot bring myself to drop even $20 on this card...It's a beauty and I understand its significance. Still, seems like anything more than $15 is too much...

[ALR-bishop]

I have never seen mine. I do have a still sealed factory set. I did go out and get all the set variations. Because I did not know which one I had in the set, I got both versions and have them in holders banded to the box . It is the only Upper Deck set I have

[jp1216]

'89 UD will always be a special set. The Griffey (being card #1) will always command a nice premium. Iconic card for the time. Supply vs. Demand is correct. One of my favorites - but still wish I had sold my PSA 10 in 1998. Prices on eBay were around $3000 believe it or not....

[Matthew80]

Is it a seemingly endless line of buyers for the card, or is it a few dozen hoarders?

I wonder how many people have at least 10 copies of PSA 8 or higher. With 45k out there in circulation, I find it hard to believe there are so many collectors out there are willing to pay $20 to get (or refusing to take $20 to let go of) a decent PSA-graded Griffey.

Just seems strange a card so prevalent can still demand $20+ (or much more for 9s and 10s).

[the 'stache]

When I returned to the hobby, and found out about graded cards, the Griffey was the first one I bought. Why? Because it is the iconic card of my generation. The kid was the closest thing to Willie Mays in my lifetime. He could do it all, and he's as popular now as he has ever been. Other "heroes" have fallen off the map because of PED Rumors. Griffey Jr is the rare exception.

Our dads had the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle. We have the '89 Upper Deck Griffey. 50 years from now, long after he's been inducted into Cooperstown, this card will still be in high demand. So while the supply of decently graded cards (PSA 8s) are plentiful, the higher graded cards will command a premium.

I'm very happy with my 9.

[Julz24]

I know a guy at work who does not collect baseball cards. But he does have an 89 Upper Deck Griffey that he won't soon part with. My buddy grew up in San Bernardino, and as a kid in the late 1980's his Dad took him to see the Spirit play every Thirsty Thursday. He saw Griffey play at least a dozen games and fell in love with "The Kid" back when he really was just a kid.

When I first told him I was a baseball card collector and my favorite player was Junior, he immediately told me about his UD rookie card. I guess his Mom still has the card at her house and he is hoping to get it and bring it home to his apartment before something happens to it. I asked him what other Griffey cards he has and he said none, just the Upper Deck rookie card.

That card really is the defining baseball card of the modern collecting generation. It might not be the golden ticket that we all thought it would be - but its still an OG rookie card of a future HOF. It's one of the few modern cards known by non-collectors, and it played a key part in changing the hobby forever. I've even got a few copies myself...

[Rich Klein]

#1 card in a key set from an era where everyone collected. Everyone wanted that card, great picture, etc. 1989 Upper Deck WAS the set in 1989 and even though today there are plenty that was real hot then thus everyone wanted that card.

Hey, if you are patient you will find that card at your price, but it is the 1980's version of the most iconic card. If Don Mattingly had ended up with an HOF career the 1984 Donruss card would be right up there with the Griffey. Certain cards just have an aura about them and those are two of them.

Rich